ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: THE INTERACTIONS OF SLEEP, MEDICAL ILLNESS, MEDICATIONS, AND AGING Sleep is an essential human behavior and a tightly regulated biological rhythm. It is often considered a barometer of health and is susceptible to the disruptive effects of many endogenous and exogenous influences. This is especially evident in older persons with multiple medical comorbidities. Sleep complaints increase in prevalence with aging in a pattern that parallels the increase in medical conditions and medication use (1). Acknowledging the complex interaction between sleep, medical illness, medications, and age enables the clinician to more comprehensively and effectively address sleep difficulties in older adults.
